Perhaps I am linking to this video because I, like many writers, consider myself an introvert. It is nice to feel validated. But I think it is also valuable from an education perspective.

Susan Cain gave a TEDTalk called “The Power of Introverts.” She explores why we tend to value extroverts in our society more than we value introverts, and she makes a case in favor of more freedom, privacy, and autonomy at work and in school.

Do you often like to go off and be alone? Do you think before you talk? Do people sometimes call you shy, even though you have no fear of people? Well, guess what? It’s okay to be quiet. It’s okay to speak softly. You probably aren’t shy. You’re just an introvert!

I think this video would be of interest to parents and students alike. Cain says, “Solitude is a crucial ingredient to creativity…Solitude matters. For some people it is the air that they breathe.” She believes people “need to work on their own, because that is where deep thought comes from.”

It is my hope that Ms. Scribbles’ Writing Workshop strikes that right balance between fostering independent work and allowing fruitful collaboration. Now, stop reading this blog and go be alone with your thoughts. Your own mind is far more interesting than anything you will find on the Internet!